Sitting in one of the leafiest and prestigious enclaves of the city with the South Downs on your doorstep is this substantial, detached family home. Ideal for families it has five generous double bedrooms and three bathrooms plus two sunny reception rooms on the ground floor leading out to a glorious rear garden. Built during the 1930s, it has well-proportioned rooms offering a huge amount of flexibility depending on need. While much of the home has already been modernised, it is also brimming with potential for further extension or updating in areas which could add huge value in an area such as this. The local schools are amongst the best in the city and the transport links by car, bus or train are excellent so this property will appeal to many.

Style: Detached 1930s house
Bedrooms: 5 double
Bathrooms: 3; 2 en suite
Living rooms: 2 spacious inc. kitchen diner
Area: 2863 sq.ft
Outside: Large, north-westerly rear garden
Location: Tongdean/Hove Park
Parking: parking on drive for 1 car

Why you’ll like it:
Characterised by substantial homes sitting on generous plots of land, the roads around Hove Park have always held a prestigious air about them. They are peacefully positioned on the outskirts of the city while remaining well-connected with Dyke Road Avenue nearby, taking you straight in or out of the city with ease.

Archetypal for the 1930s era, this house has the feel of a country home with leaded light windows on its porch and decorative tiles and brickwork on its façade. It is set well back from the road behind a driveway and a front garden, and once inside, you are welcomed into a sizable entrance hall where the scale of the house becomes apparent. Wood wall-panelling rises up the stairwell and the walls are fresh in white to complement caramel carpets – all of which serve to brighten the space further. There is a separate ground floor cloakroom – an essential in any family home, and a deep under-stairs cupboard for household items as well as a porch for coats and shoes.

Spanning the depth of the house is an impressive through living and dining room which was originally two rooms which have since been opened to create one large and sociable space with sunlight streaming in from the south at the front, to patio doors at the rear leading out to the gorgeous rear garden. There is a vast amount of space in here for families of all sizes with clearly defined areas for formal dining, relaxation, work and entertaining. For families with younger children, there is space for a play room, and during the warmer seasons, the garden becomes an extension of the home. The original Crittall windows have been retained in here, which could either be restored or replaced as they are making a return in the world of interiors at present.

Nearby, the kitchen looks out over the garden and has been modernised more recently with glossy white units and worktops forming a large U-shape and offering a huge amount of storage at both wall and base levels. Within these, the dishwasher, oven and gas hob have been integrated, leaving space for a tall fridge freezer, and there is a separate larder for dry food stuffs and kitchen appliances. The garage is accessible from here and has been converted into a storage space and utility room with plumbing and space for the washing machine and tumble dryer. A new boiler has also been fitted.

Stepping outside – via the dining room or the side access from the kitchen, the garden stretches back over 80-feet with a patio area close to the house for alfresco dining, followed by a large area of lush lawn which is bordered by well-established trees and plants. At the far end, there is a copse area for children’s playtime and being open to the west, it is a real suntrap as the weather warms. It is also wonderfully private and filled with wildlife making it hard to believe you are so close to the city.

Returning inside, there are four well-proportioned double bedrooms on the first floor, each with peaceful and leafy views and a fresh neutral décor, creating a blank canvas for the new homeowners. All have some built-in storage, although there is ample space for freestanding pieces too, and the larger two rooms have en suite, wet-rooms with rainfall showers and natural stone tiling. The family bathroom is also on this floor with a bathtub and shower over it, so there should be no need for queues on busy mornings before work and school.

Upstairs, the fifth bedroom has been created in the loft, so it has far reaching views across the treetops of the local landscape below big, open skies. This is another substantial double with access to the loft storage space that can be converted to a very comfortable en-suite bedroom. There is, however, further potential to create a 6th and equally big double bedroom with an en-suite on the same floor.

Agent’s thoughts:
This house is substantial as it stands, yet it offers a huge amount of potential for further improvements. It sits in one of the most sought-after locations in the city, so we do not expect it to stay on the market for long.

Owner’s secret
“This has been our family home for many years where we grew up and in more recent times it has been a rental investment for us. This is such a wonderful area to raise children as Hove Park is nearby and the schools are amazing. It is both peaceful and close to the city and the house is ideal for both entertaining and family time.”

Where it is:
Shops: Local 5 min walk, city centre 10 min drive
Train Station: Hove Station/Preston Park Station 20 min walk
Seafront or Park: Hove Park 5 min walk, seafront 10 min drive
Closest Schools:
Primary: Westdene Primary School. West Blatchington Primary
Secondary: Hove Park, Blatchington Mill, Cardinal Newman RC
Private: Brighton College, Windlesham Prep.

This attractive family home is situated in a popular area with fantastic transport links and the South Downs National Park on your doorstep. The city centre shopping districts and beach are also within easy reach, and this house also offers easy access to the A23/A27 and Hove Station which have direct and fast links to the universities, the airports and London.